Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-23
VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS.
Points from MahOMe,s Address to the
People of the State.

People of the State.
The republican State central committee OF vir-
ginia has issued an address to the people OF the
State. It's signed by William Malone as chair
man, and Asa Rogers, secretary. The address
criticises the platform adopted by the recent
Virginia democratic convention, and says that
the republican party has no account for any
stewardship to render since for four years it has
had no control over the administration Of State
affairs. The points of the Roanoke platform are
taken up and discussed separately. The address
declares that President Cleveland's admins
trat1On Is great and bitter disappOint-
ment to the managers of the democratic party of
Virginia. as their pretended support of him is not
only inconsistent with the advocacy OF the repeal
OF the 1nternal-revenue system and the passage Of
the Blair educational bll but is time serving and
delustye. The democratic party, 1t says, does not
favor the repeal OF the revenue system for its plan
OF reducing the tariff embraces a continuance OF
these taxes.
THE TOBACCO TAX.
Upon this subject the address says: "Every
message of President Cleveland has ignored any
suggestion OF repeal of the 1nternal-revenue
system, and to the repeated efforts OF the small
minority OF democrats who seek its repeal the
democratic majority OF the Forty ninth Congress,
speaking through its committee on ways and
means-Speaking for an overwhelming majority
OF the democratic party-speaking in accord with
following unmistakable responses on behalf OF the
democratic party: On the 10th Of July, 1856, in
the House OF Representatives OF the United States
Mr. Morrison, q leading democrat and chairman
OF the committee on ways and means, on behalf
OF the democratic majority OF the House, sub
mitted from his committee an adverse report upon
the bill to reduce the fnternal-revenue taxes,
&C. That report is House document, first session
OF the Forty ninth Congress, No. 1908 and con-
tains the following language; Attempts to re-
move the tobacco and other internal taxes are
usually justified by asserting these to be war
taxes, and in apparent forgetfulness OF the fact
THAT SO far as relates to its money obligations the
have paid $4,000, 100000 yet to be collected in
taxes from the people. A tax on these-tODacco
gence and excess, and its payment largely volun-
tary. Taxes not paid on these must be paid on
necessares OF life, and these are not necessaries
of life. This tax
SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED"
ReHrence Is also made to an adverse report
maddupOn the same day by Mr. w. c. F. Breckin-
rid OF Kentucky, another democratic leader
and Representative OF the democratic majority,
fro the committee on ways and means, upon
and quotes enough to show that the democratic
party is hostile to the repeal Of the tax on to-
baccO.
The republican Forty-seyenth Congress reduced
internal-revenue taxes fifty millions and the party
is now practically unit in favor OF the repeal OF
the tax on tobacco and fruit Installations
Referring to the tariff, the address declares that
the Roanoke platform is at variance with the rec
ord OF the national democratic party, as it ira
OF the President, and the propositions of the con-
trolling faction In Congress. The Democratic view
is reduction OF import duties to virtual free trade
and the maintenance OF the 1nternal-revenue sys-
tenn as means OF compelling the adoption OF that
un-American policy.
THE DEBT QUESTION
The State debt question is treated at length.
the address saying: "FOr eight years-from 1871
to 1S79-the leaders OF the Virginia democracy
we're in undtSputed control OF the administration
OF the State government. During that period they
gave the people no 1nteiligible statement Of the
debt but, on the contrary, produced divers irrec-
to make confusion worse confounded They for
mulated no plan for adjusting the equities be-
tween the several classes OF the creditors Of the
state, and finally lost power by the passage of
stupid and odious measure, known as the Nc
Oulloch bill, which satisfied neither debtor nor
power by the people, and within sixty DAYS after
the meeting OF the legislature prepared, pre-
amount Of our public debt and plan of read
1usting 1t equitably as between the several
classes OF our bondholders, in such form that no
the amount OF the debt or the equity Of the ad-
1ustment between the creditors as therein stated.
When THIS oaam measure re- was passed the bourbon
its utter failure. Nevertheless it went into eject
and was progressing most encouragingly. The
only test case under the debt legislation OF 1882
which went to the Supreme Court OF the United
States was decided In favor OF the constitution
ality OF the law involved, law vital to the en-
cheered by the hope that final settlement was
indeed near at hand. Seeing this condition OF
affairs, the bourbon convention OF 1883 abandoned
all pretense of opposition upon principle to the
debt settlement; II pocketed Its oft-ayowed
enmity to the legislation supporting It, declared
that the debt question was settled forever and it
regained power
UNDER SOLEMN PLEDGE
not to disturb It, but to carry out the settlement
according to its true intent and tenor. How the
democrats have redeemed that pledge, let the rec
ord and present condition OF the debt question
speak. From the moment the democratic mana
gers were restored to the control OF State affairs
the settlement has languished. They have bafl1ed
its execution by their Incompetence and unfaith-
fulnoSR Without understanding the principles on
which the supplementary laws TO the debt settle
ment were framed, they at once proceeded to
amend them, although pledged to let them alone.
The cases which arose and were carried to the Fed
eral courts after these amendments had rendered
the original enactmentS unconstitutional were all
decided adversely to the state Funding under
these laws has virtually ceased. and under the 1u
dictal decisions which have been thus invited the
coupons are more powerful than ever. The debt
question, which was declared settled In 1668 4